NCAA Runner-Up for Appleton, Trio of Cavaliers Earn All-America Honors on Final Day of NCAA Championships

Margot Appleton Returns to the Podium

In her third NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance, Margot Appleton completed the 1500-meter and 5000-meter double, earning All-America honors in both events.

• Appleton executed a tactical race in the women’s 1500-meters to become the NCAA runner-up clocking 4:08.99 and earned first team All-America honors.
• This marks the second time in three years in which Appleton has made the podium in the women’s 1500-meters at the NCAA Outdoor meet. She finished third in the event in 2023.
• Just under two hours later, Appleton toed the line in the women’s 5000-meters where she finished 13^th clocking 15:44.76.
• For her performance in the 5k, the senior earned second team All-America accolades.
• This marks her second consecutive year earning All-America honors in the 5000-meter event after finishing fourth a year ago.

All-America Honors for Estel Valeanu

In her third consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championships, Estel Valeanu earned second team All-America accolades in the women’s discus.

• On her first throw in the competition, Valeanu recorded a new personal best of  58.22m/191-0 to finish ninth in the field.
• Valeanu bettered her previous best of 57.28m/187-11 and improved her Virginia No.2 all-time mark.
• She adds another All-America accolade to her resume alongside a ninth in 2024 competing for LSU and sixth in 2023 with Harvard.

Celia Rifaterra Setting the Bar
In her second NCAA Outdoor Championship appearance, Celia Rifaterra cleared 1.84m/6-0.5 to finish seventh in the high jump and earn first team All-American honors.

• After earning honorable mention honors a year ago, Rifaterra notched first team…